#278 09-20-71 Assume Share Welfare Costs Support Local Services8
Resolution No. 278
September 20, 1971
Member Stockman introduced the following resolution and MOVED its adoption:
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STATE ASSUMPTION OF
THE MAJOR SHARE OF EDUCATION AND WELFARE COSTS AS A MEANS
OF AFFORDING LASTING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND RETAINING
THE PROPERTY TAX AS A MEANS OF SUPPORTING LOCAL SERVICES
WHEREAS, the power to tax and spend directly affects the decision-making power
exercised at each level of government;
WHEREAS, decision-making power gravitates toward those units of government
which have taxing and spending authority and away from those which do not;
WHEREAS, the council of Golden Valley believes the combination of property
tax limitations and a freeze on state financial aids to local units of
government will destroy the present state/local decision-making balance;
WHEREAS, municipal officials have been more conservative in increasing
municipal expenditures than any other group of public officials in Minnesota;
WHERFAS, the legislative process is already overburdened with local bills and
any reduction of decision-making powers on the local level will increase the
number of bills of a local nature above the 40% of 6,000 bills introduced in
the 1971 session, greatly increasing the cost of the legislative session;
WHEREAS, use of the Comsumer Price Index as an index of inflation in any
tax limitation legislation will have the effect of forcing a continuing
reduction in local services;
WHEREAS, a reduction in services does not greatly affect the tax bill of
citizens, but a reduction is greatly noticeable to citizens;
WHEREAS, the Village Council of Golden Valley believes that while citizens
want property taxes lowered they do not want municipal services reduced;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Village Council of Golden Valley
that the council:
1. Believes that there is historic and legal ,justification in the
state assuming responsibility for support of public education and/or welfare.
2. Believes that the desire of the legislature to afford sub-
stantial and lasting property tax relief can be best achieved by a state
assumption of a major share of the costs of education and/or welfare.
3. Views as essential the preservation of some reasonable balance
between local and state decision-making responsibilities regarding taxing
and spending.
4. Believes that a shift in the tax burden should recognize
ability of taxpayers to pay and that there should be a relationship between
the source of the tax and services provided.
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Resolution No. 278 September 20, 1971
5. Believes that Golden Valley should not be subject to arbitrary
levy limitations.
6. Rejects the use of the Consumer's Price Index as a means of
measuring the cost of providing local services on the grounds that the CPI
measures increases in the costs of items which are not important elements in
municipal budgets and does not measure salaries and wages which make up more
than half of municipal expenditures.
7. Views as essential the replacement by alternative sources of
revenue of the funds now derived from per capita and personal property reimbur-
sement payments if part of all of these funds should be eliminated as part
of a new tax bill.
8. Opposes any freeze of per capita and personal property reimbursement
payments.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Village Clerk is directed to furnish
certified copies of this resolution to Senators Kenneth Wolfe & Richard Parrish
and Representatives Rolf Nelson & Julian Hook, to all members of the House and
Senate Tax Committees, to Governor Anderson, to the Hennepin County League
of Municipalities, and to the League of Minnesota Municipalities and to the press.
Attest: Mayor
i lage Clerk
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded
by Member Hoover and upon vote being taken thereon, the following members
voted in favor thereof: Hoover, Paulson, Stockman, Teresi, and Ulstad;
and the following voted against the same: None, whereupon said resolution
was declared duly passed and adopted, signed by the Mayor, and his signature
attested by the Clerk.
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